The fact that US citizens were handing over atomic secrets to the SU increased hysteria about the power of Communism and Communist infiltration

AND...Moa's victory over Nationalists in China (1949)

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Joseph McCarthy quotes

February 1950

'I have a list of 205...a list of names that were made known to the Secretary of State as being members of the Communist Party and who are still working and shaping the policy in the State Department'

This sparked a more aggressive hunt for subversives.

'The entire Democratic Party is responsible for '20 years of treason' as through weakness it has encouraged Communist subversion'

North Korea invading South Korea supported this claim

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Political views of McCarthy

Many remained silent - out of fear

General Eisenhower remained silent when McCarthy attacked General George C. Marshall

Democrats strongly opposed but did little/nothing

Those who stood against McCarthy would be accused of Communist leanings

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Flaws with McCarthy

Accusations were inconsistent

Numbers of communists changed from 205-57-81

Changed his charges from Communist to loyalty rick

He would never divulge names in committee meetings - once named professor Owen Lattinmore as a 'top Russian spy' with little evidence, this accusation failed and he named no more people directly

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Movements against McCarthy (including historiograp

Truman said that McCarthy was 'the greatest asset the Kremlin had' and that his accusations were untrue

Several Domocratic Senators stood against him

Few news papers opposed him - McCarthy had good relationships with select reporters. Haynes Johnson wrote - some tried 'admirably to hold himaccountable for his falsehoods' however their voice was too small. Johnson believes that this is one way McCarthy could do so much damage - by silencing the press

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McCarthy's downfall

1954, April-June

McCarthy attacked army officials in a televised event

He was rude, abusive and evasive

Sentator Stuart Symington said 'the American people had a look at you for 6 weeks. you are not fooling anyone.'

September - investigations into McCarthy commenced - his investigations were 'vulgar', 'reprehensible' and 'inexcusable'